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Resources & Frequently Asked Questions
Resources

Resources & Commonly Asked Questions

Scattering ashes in BC

BC's cremation law doesn't limit where ashes can be scattered, but landowners, other provincial laws and local bylaws can.

Updated September 29, 2026

Many families want to scatter ashes in a place that mattered to the person who died. In British Columbia you can do this in many places, but you may need permission first.

What BC law says

Consumer Protection BC explains that the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act "does not restrict where ashes can be scattered but other provincial laws and local bylaws do." In the end, whether you can scatter in a particular place is up to the landowner or the government agency responsible for it.

If the person who died stated in their will or a preneed funeral contract how they wanted their ashes scattered, that wish is generally binding. Our article Who can arrange a cremation in BC? explains when.

Where you can scatter, and who to ask

Provincial parks, protected areas and Crown land

Consumer Protection BC says scattering in these places "is generally allowed with consideration for other park users."

Lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands

Consumer Protection BC says ashes can be scattered in these waters "if they do not cause adverse impacts," under BC's Water Sustainability Act.

The ocean

For scattering in the ocean, Consumer Protection BC suggests contacting the federal government.

National parks

Contact the park through Parks Canada to ask about any guidelines.

Private land

Ask the landowner first.

City parks, beaches and other public land

Check with the city, municipality or regional district, because local bylaws may say where ashes can and can't be scattered. Some Lower Mainland examples, as of September 2026:

  • Surrey: The parks bylaw doesn't allow cremated remains to be deposited in a park, except in an area the city has designated and posted for that purpose, or in a city cemetery. Surrey is also running a pilot ash-scattering site at the Surrey Public Wharf on the Fraser River. Ceremonies are for Surrey residents only, by reservation, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The city's fee is $237 plus tax.
  • Richmond: Bylaw 8771 says a person "must not leave, place, deposit or dispose of any cremated remains in any public park or school ground, except in an area designated and posted for such purpose."
  • West Vancouver: The District of West Vancouver says it "does not permit the spreading of ashes in public spaces, including parks and beaches."
  • Delta: In July 2026, the Province and the City of Delta announced the first dedicated site in BC for scattering ashes on a waterway, at Fraser Viewpoint on Tilbury Island. Delta is upgrading the park to give safe access to the edge of the Fraser River. Check with the City of Delta before you plan a visit.

Many communities have no specific rule. If you can't find one, ask before you go.

Scattering with care

Consumer Protection BC suggests a few things to keep in mind:

  • Avoid places that are sacred or culturally significant to First Nations, such as burial grounds and ceremonial sites.
  • Use a designated scattering spot where there is one.
  • Avoid scattering a large amount of ashes in one spot.
  • Keep away from drinking water intakes, food gardens, crops and places used for water recreation.
  • Use only biodegradable flowers or wreaths, and leave nothing behind that won't break down.
  • If you hold a ceremony, be considerate of others using the area.

Other choices for ashes

Keeping ashes at home

BC law doesn't require ashes to be buried or placed in a cemetery, so you can keep them at home. They can be kept in any container you like. As Consumer Protection BC puts it, there are "no legal requirements for what the container must look like."

Dividing ashes

Some families divide the ashes, so that several people can keep a portion in a small keepsake urn, or so that part can be scattered and part kept. That decision belongs to the person with the legal right to control what happens to the ashes. Remember that ashes scattered outdoors or in a shared scattering garden can't be recovered.

Placing ashes in a cemetery

Many Lower Mainland cemeteries, including municipal cemeteries in Surrey, Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Delta and the Township of Langley, have space for ashes. The usual options are:

  • A cremation plot: an in-ground space for an urn. Some hold more than one urn, so family members can be together.
  • A columbarium niche: a space in an above-ground wall or building where an urn is placed and sealed.
  • A scattering garden: a shared garden where ashes are scattered. Once there, they mix with others and can't be recovered.

When you buy a space, you're buying a right of interment, which is the right to be placed there, not the land itself. Each cemetery has its own bylaws, which may limit things like the urn or the memorial you can use, so check them before you buy.

Scattering at sea with Just Cremation

If you would like the ashes scattered at sea, Just Cremation can do this on your behalf instead of returning them to you. You'll find the price on our pricing page.

If you'd like to talk through what's possible, we're happy to help.